Mare Lõhmus has written an interesting paper on the biological links between mental illness and heat. The paper covers a broad range of topics relevant to this central relationship. Lõhmus looks at neurotransmitters as well as neuroimaging studies and the link with sleep. In terms of sleep, Lõhmus cites hot chamber studies revealing a reduction in slow wave and REM sleep with high temperatures and also suggests there may be a distinction between the effects of the timing of heat on sleep. Lõhmus also looks at the historical record including the European heatwave of 2003 and research looking at the New York State Psychiatric Hospital between 1950 and 1983.
Index: There are indices for the TAWOP site here and here
Twitter: You can follow ‘The Amazing World of Psychiatry’ Twitter by clicking on this link.
TAWOP Channel: You can follow the TAWOP Channel on YouTube by clicking on this link.
Responses: If you have any comments, you can leave them below or alternatively e-mail justinmarley17@yahoo.co.uk.
Disclaimer: The comments made here represent the opinions of the author and do not represent the profession or any body/organisation. The comments made here are not meant as a source of medical advice and those seeking medical advice are advised to consult with their own doctor. The author is not responsible for the contents of any external sites that are linked to in this blog.
Conflicts of Interest: *For potential conflicts of interest please see the About section
The Amazing World of Psychiatry: A Psychiatry Blog 